Mind Games

Very well done! You seem to be pretty good at NL 2-7 Single Draw.

I'll gladly leave this game to you. I tried it a bunch of times but never seemed to figure out a good winning strategy.

Originally posted by Harrier88
Very well done! You seem to be pretty good at NL 2-7 Single Draw.

I'll gladly leave this game to you. I tried it a bunch of times but never seemed to figure out a good winning strategy.

This was my 2nd 2nd in the past week — one thing I've been doing is making small bets post draw whether I'm bluffing or not.
Any fold is good when you're bluffing, getting called just means you get to show your bluff. Getting raised means you can get away from the hand cheaply — or re-shove and really make some money.

on PokerStars — I'm still not ready to tackle GGPoker

My main approach has been to get it in as the favourite and cash out — here's one time I didn't cash out

Note that I am well behind on the flop.
PokerStars, 6+ Hold'em No Limit - Button Blind $0.05 ($0.05 ante) - 3 players
Replay this hand on Pokeit

UTG: $6.35 (127 bb)
CO: $5.62 (112 bb)
BU (Hero): $5.00 (100 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.20) Hero is BTN with 7♥ K♥
UTG calls $0.05, CO calls $0.05, Hero checks

Flop: ($0.30) 6♣ K♠ K♣ (3 players)
UTG bets $6.25 (all-in), CO folds, Hero calls $4.90 (all-in)

Turn: ($10.10) K♦ (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($10.10) A♠ (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $10.09 (Rake: -$5.90)

Showdown:
UTG shows 6♠ 6♥ (a full house, Kings full of Sixes (cashed out).)
BU (Hero) shows 7♥ K♥
UTG wins $6.31
BU (Hero) wins $9.68

Here's one time I did — At the time I cashed out, I was well ahead, but did so anyway

Several times tonight I cashed out in a 5-way pot with less than 50% equity — but multiway that is well over half the pot.
Several of *those* times I would have lost everything.

In this next one, I elected to cash out, and because I did so, I got the lion's share of the pot, since it ended up a chop, and at the time I cashed out, I was ahead in equity

Over the course of the evening, up 6 buy-ins (at $0.05 button blind) I can't complain.

PokerStars, 6+ Hold'em No Limit - Button Blind $0.05 ($0.05 ante) - 5 players
Replay this hand on Pokeit

UTG (Hero): $14.19 (284 bb)
MP: $4.00 (80 bb)
MP+1: $13.98 (280 bb)
CO: $4.73 (95 bb)
BU: $13.01 (260 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.30) Hero is UTG with A♠ Q♣
Hero raises to $0.40, 2 players fold, CO calls $0.40, BTN calls $0.35

Flop: ($1.45) A♥ 6♣ A♣ (3 players)
Hero bets $0.72, CO folds, BTN raises to $3.55, Hero raises to $13.74 (all-in), BTN calls $9.01 (all-in)

Turn: ($26.57) K♦ (2 players, 2 all-in)

River: ($26.57) K♥ (2 players, 2 all-in)

Total pot: $26.57 (Rake: -$4.46)

Showdown:
UTG (Hero) shows A♠ Q♣ (a full house, Aces full of Kings (pot not awarded as player cashed out))
BU shows A♦ J♥
UTG (Hero) wins $18.25
BU wins $12.78

My main approach has been to get it in as the favourite and cash out

I suggest to get used to the swings asap because the cashout functionis very cosly (1% of your share of the pot)

With the K7s hand in a limped pot you'll almost never good here. Actually 66 is the best scenario because villain mosly has better Kx hands. A FD will never shove here. I know it looks good but really isn't. On side note on sundays i might call to

AQo - UTG is a limp and no openraise. You only start to openraise or isoraise from HJ. sometimes from MP if you allready have 2 limpers in front of you.

3rd deepish run in the $3.30 NL 2-7 Single Draw PKO in the week past. Add in a 2nd in a $1.10 PLO8 tourney and things are looking fine.

Weirdness...
On the turn I could flat, or I could just shove. I figured that if opponent really had something that much better, he would try to keep me in the pot. Perhaps it was a stupid play, and when I called the shove, I did have the "Oh Crap!" feeling...

PokerStars - 50/100 PL Hi/Lo (6 max) - Omaha Hi/Lo - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

BB: 3,000
UTG: 3,391
Hero (CO): 3,399
BTN: 2,926
SB: 3,580

SB posts SB 50, BB posts BB 100

Pre Flop: (pot: 150) Hero has 2♦:3♠:K♥:A♠:

UTG calls 100, Hero calls 100, fold, SB calls 50, BB raises to 500, fold, Hero calls 400, SB calls 400

Flop: (1,600, 3 players) K♣:Q♠:6♠:
SB checks, BB checks, Hero checks

Turn: (1,600, 3 players) 6♦:
SB checks, BB bets 1,600, Hero raises to 2,899 and is all-in, fold, BB calls 900 and is all-in

River: (6,600, 2 players) Q♣:

BB shows 5♠:2♣:A♣:3♣: (One Pair, Queens)
(Pre 39%, Flop 12%, Turn 0%)
Hero shows 2♦:3♠:K♥:A♠: (Two Pair, Kings and Queens)
(Pre 61%, Flop 88%, Turn 100%)
Hero wins 6,600

That was weird, this was weirder...
https://forums.pokerstrategy.com/forum/thread.php?postid=3305595#post3305595

Check out the equities
Then see what I was called by...
PokerStars - 20/40 PL Hi/Lo (6 max) - Omaha Hi/Lo - 5 players
Hand converted by PokerTracker 4

UTG: 1,665
Hero (CO): 2,895
BTN: 4,703
SB: 3,060
BB: 2,707

SB posts SB 20, BB posts BB 40

Pre Flop: (pot: 60) Hero has 7♠:A♦:K♦:4♥:

UTG calls 40, Hero calls 40, BTN raises to 80, fold, BB calls 40, UTG calls 40, Hero calls 40

Flop: (340, 4 players) 4♠:3♦:4♣:
BB checks, UTG bets 340, Hero raises to 1,360, BTN calls 1,360, fold, UTG raises to 1,585 and is all-in, Hero calls 225, BTN calls 225

Turn: (5,095, 3 players) T♥:
Hero bets 1,230 and is all-in, BTN calls 1,230

River: (7,555, 3 players) Q♠:

Hero shows 7♠:A♦:K♦:4♥: (Three of a Kind, Fours)

Main Pot [5,095]: (Pre 27%, Flop 42%, Turn 63%)
Side Pot#1 [2,460]: (Pre 48%, Flop 49%, Turn 65%)

BTN shows 2♠:5♠:A♥:8♣: (One Pair, Fours)

Main Pot [5,095]: (Pre 35%, Flop 46%, Turn 31%)
Side Pot#1 [2,460]: (Pre 52%, Flop 51%, Turn 35%)

UTG shows 6♣:K♣:7♦:K♠: (Two Pair, Kings and Fours)

Main Pot [5,095]: (Pre 38%, Flop 12%, Turn 7%)

Hero wins 7,555

That last post got me off to a great start.
Finished 5th in that one for $11 or so bux

Still playing the $3.30 NL 2-7 Single Draw PKO
We've been on the FT Bubble for quite a while — but nobody wants to play. Every time I raise I get a chorus of folds.
I wonder why?

Fourth FT in the last two weeks, and the 3rd Heads-up and finally!

Amazing job!

Originally posted by Harrier88
Amazing job!
Thanks — the cards were good to me today.
Also, I am no longer passive post-draw, and I CBet almost all hand where I stood pat or drew one — and a few where I drew two as well.
I bet 1.5 BB post draw, and I'm usually happy to get a chorus of folds. [1]
At this point, I will often get called by worse than 9-7 low, I'll get raised by better and J-Lo and worse will usually fold.
My favourite though, is when I get raised. I will just fold if bluffing — and I bluff any pair, and any Q-low to A-low.
If I have 9-7 low or better 9, I call the raise, and shove any 8-low or better.
It seems to be working

[1] Here's an example:
PokerStars, $2.94 + $0.36 - 2-7 Single Draw No Limit - 15/30 (8 ante) - 6 players
Replay this hand on Pokeit

UTG: 2,862 (95 bb)
MP: 3,019 (101 bb)
CO: 2,353 (78 bb)
BU: 2,458 (82 bb)
SB (Hero): 3,715 (124 bb)
BB: 3,448 (115 bb)

Deal: (93) Hero is SB with 5♠:7♦:2♣:9♠:Q♦:
UTG calls 30, 1 fold, CO calls 30, 1 fold, Hero calls 15, BB checks

Draw One: (168) 5♠:7♦:2♣:9♠:9♥: (4 players) <<< I paired the top card, and before I would never bluff this multi-way, but now, I'm happy to pay 1.5 BB so others can see I'm full of BS and possibly pay off later
SB (Hero) draws Q♦:, BB draws 4, UTG draws 1, CO draws 1
Hero bets 45, 3 players fold

Total pot: 168
SB (Hero) wins 168

Well, you're making the game look easy with those kinds of results.

I may give it another shot eventually, but I highly doubt it will happen any time soon. I'll gladly let you crush those while I focus on the games I'm more experienced in. I don't have a lot of time for poker these days anyway, so I'd like to make those few hours count.

Originally posted by Harrier88
Well, you're making the game look easy with those kinds of results.

Another thing I forgot to mention.
There is a button that appears on the table occasionally that holds the key to victory.

I've circled it in the screenshot:

It's our 42nd[1] anniversary next week, so Mrs Vorpal and I have booked a hotel for 3 nights in the middle of freakin' nowhere.
Not a lot of forum postings from me next week.

The first day is travel, second day will be a tour of several vineyards in the Okanagan region of British Columbia.
Nothing planned for the 3rd day
4th day drive home.

I'll try to remember to take a picture or two.

[1] That isn't an April Fool's prank...

Originally posted by Fredjen

My main approach has been to get it in as the favourite and cash out

I suggest to get used to the swings asap because the cashout functionis very cosly (1% of your share of the pot)

Thanks for that tip.
I have stopped cashing out heads up except in rare circumstances.

Here is an example of where I think it makes sense — even ignoring the result.
PokerStars, 6+ Hold'em No Limit - Button Blind $0.05 ($0.05 ante) - 5 players

UTG: $3.60 (72 bb)
MP: $29.28 (586 bb)
MP+1: $3.06 (61 bb)
CO: $5.80 (116 bb)
BU (Hero): $10.82 (216 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.30) Hero is BTN with A♦:A♠:
UTG raises to $3.55 (all-in), MP 3-bets to $29.23 (all-in), MP+1 calls $3.01 (all-in), 1 fold, Hero calls $10.72 (all-in), reticulates splines [1]

At this point it showed that I had 40-something % equity. 40% of this pot is 75% of my stack, so cashing out increases my stack with only a 3BB downside. Furthermore MP covers me, so my entire stack is at risk. With just the two shorties in, I would have a harder time deciding
Flop: ($28.35) 8♠:Q♥:K♠: (4 players, 4 all-in)

Turn: ($28.35) 6♦: (4 players, 4 all-in)

River: ($28.35) J♥: (4 players, 4 all-in)

Total pot: $28.32 (Rake: -$22.16)

Showdown:
MP shows T♠:A♣: (a straight, Ten to Ace)
UTG shows Q♠:Q♦: (three of a kind, Queens (cashed out).)
MP+1 shows J♠:J♣: (three of a kind, Jacks (cashed out).)
BU (Hero) shows A♦:A♠:
MP wins $27.35
UTG wins $3.27
MP+1 wins $2.60
BU (Hero) wins $17.26

[1] I have no clue what that means. It was not in the original hand history, but was added by the converter.

In this case I did not, and opponent hit his 3-outer [1]
Opponent did cash out, and actually lost money.
According to Hand2Note I'm winning today at 100.61 BB/100, so I'm not so worried.

PokerStars, 6+ Hold'em No Limit - Button Blind $0.05 ($0.05 ante) - 4 players
Replay this hand on Pokeit

UTG: $6.34 (127 bb)
MP: $3.86 (77 bb)
CO: $10.21 (204 bb)
BU (Hero): $18.55 (371 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.25) Hero is BTN with 7♠ 7♥
UTG calls $0.05, MP calls $0.05, CO calls $0.05, Hero checks

Flop: ($0.40) T♥ 7♦ T♠ (4 players)
UTG bets $0.19, MP raises to $0.46, CO folds, Hero raises to $1.99, UTG folds, MP calls $1.53

Turn: ($4.57) K♠ (2 players)
MP bets $1.77 (all-in), Hero calls $1.77

River: ($8.11) 9♦ (2 players, 1 all-in)

Total pot: $8.11 (Rake: $6.18)

Showdown:
MP shows 9♣ T♣ (a full house, Tens full of Nines (pot not awarded as player cashed out))
BU (Hero) shows 7♠ 7♥
MP wins $1.93

[1] I failed to count the 3 K outs — so he had 6 outs in this case

I think I used up a whole lot of run-good though...
In 197 hands I was up 1/2 a BI (at NL 25) which is 12.5 BB/100
Where the run-good comment comes in though is that in that time I had 4 pat hands

VorpalF2F: stands pat on [Jc Qd 8d 9h Th]
VorpalF2F: stands pat on [5c 3s 3h 3d 5h]
VorpalF2F: stands pat on [Qs 4c 4d Qd 4s]
VorpalF2F: stands pat on [Ac 3c 4c 6c 2c]

Once can reasonably expect to get a pat hand once every 136 hands — so I used up at least one session's worth

of short-deck hold'em

An interesting observation is that the red line is rising at times when I have a 500BB stack or higher.

Here is the all-time short-deck graph...

At least the first I noticed. And paid off, too

PokerStars, 6+ Hold'em No Limit - Button Blind $0.05 ($0.05 ante) - 6 players
Replay this hand on Pokeit

UTG: $7.71 (154 bb)
UTG+1: $6.34 (127 bb)
MP: $5.00 (100 bb)
MP+1 (Hero): $14.26 (285 bb)
CO: $4.32 (86 bb)
BU: $2.06 (41 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.35) Hero is MP+1 with 8♥:7♥:
2 players fold, MP calls $0.05, Hero calls $0.05, CO calls $0.05, BTN checks

Flop: ($0.50) 9♥:J♥:T♥: (4 players)
MP checks, Hero checks, CO checks, BTN checks

Turn: ($0.50) A♠: (4 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $0.05, CO calls $0.05, BU folds, MP calls $0.05

River: ($0.65) 8♦: (3 players)
MP checks, Hero bets $0.05, CO raises to $0.77, MP folds, Hero raises to $14.11 (all-in), CO calls $3.40 (all-in)

Total pot: $8.99 (Rake: $0.37)

Showdown:
MP+1 (Hero) shows 8♥:7♥: (a straight flush, Seven to Jack)
CO shows A♦:Q♠: (a straight, Eight to Queen)
MP+1 (Hero) wins $8.62

This may have been a good time for opponent to bluff, but jamming air on a paired board seems overly optimistic
I have (more-or-less) cured myself of calling river raises with mediocre hands 'cuz "he might be bluffin'", but I aint foldin' this no-how

PokerStars, 6+ Hold'em No Limit - Button Blind $0.05 ($0.05 ante) - 4 players
Replay this hand on Pokeit

UTG: $3.55 (71 bb)
MP: $6.77 (135 bb)
CO (Hero): $17.54 (351 bb)
BU: $5.56 (111 bb)

Pre-Flop: ($0.25) Hero is CO with T♣:J♣:
UTG raises to $0.35, 1 fold, Hero calls $0.35, 1 fold

Flop: ($0.95) J♠:8♣:Q♠: (2 players)
UTG bets $0.45, Hero calls $0.45

Turn: ($1.85) J♥: (2 players)
UTG checks, Hero bets $0.92, UTG calls $0.92

River: ($3.69) 7♣: (2 players)
UTG bets $1.78 (all-in), Hero calls $1.78

Total pot: $7.25 (Rake: $0.30)

Showdown:
UTG shows K♥:A♦: (a pair of Jacks)
CO (Hero) shows T♣:J♣: (three of a kind, Jacks)
CO (Hero) wins $6.95

MicroMillions Marathon 46
It took two bullets, and I almost made my money back, cashing several rungs up the ladder, but no joy.

Razz was painful as well, up and down all game at about 1/2 average — it's still going though, so there is hope...